Absence of Time
Score title
Absence of Time
Composer
Narong Prangcharoen
More about the composer
Date
Instrumentation
Library copy
Program note
"Absence of Time" is a concerto for woodwind quartet and orchestra. It has three main sections (fast, slow, fast), recalling traditional concerto form, but it does not use the solo instruments in the traditional way, i.e., as soloists in contest with the orchestra. Inspired by the idea of juxtaposing different experiences of time, I divided the instruments into two groups: the four soloists and the orchestra. The orchestra functions mostly as the keeper of time ("real" time) while the quartet of soloists fluctuates (in "imaginary" time or in the "absence" of time) around the orchestra's time. While the quartet's instruments do play solos, they also play in ensemble with the orchestra. You could say that they play in both "imaginary" time (as soloists) and in "real" time (with the orchestra). In addition to this, the woodwind section of the orchestra plays in conversation with the solo quartet, calling it back to "real" time. Fusion is achieved at the end of the piece through the use of strong, driving rhythm.
"Absence of Time" was commissioned by the Pacific Symphony and was first performed by the Pacific Symphony and the Pacific Woodwind Quartet with Carl St. Clair as conductor on October 20, 2016.
"Absence of Time" was commissioned by the Pacific Symphony and was first performed by the Pacific Symphony and the Pacific Woodwind Quartet with Carl St. Clair as conductor on October 20, 2016.